Machine for making plaitings



March 31, 1942. S'EA AN 2,277,719

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATINGS Filed oat. 4, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

MarchBl, 1942. c. SEAMAN 2,277,719

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATINGS Filed 001;. 4, 1959 v s Shets-SheetZ INVENTORL BY I ATTORNEY.

March 31,1942. c, SEAMAN 2,277,719

MACHINE FOR MAKING PLEATINGS Fi led Oct. 4, 1959" s Sheets-Sheet s 81. 9 8 .%.za [274.19 a! INVEN OR. 03

ATTORNEY.

v Patented Mar. 31, 1942 UNl'lED srTs" 10 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and to an attachment therefor, and more particularly to a device for making a plaited trimming and attaching the same to a fabric.

An object of the invention is to provide a dev vice of the type above-indicated having novel and improved operating and adjusting mechanisms.

Another object is to provide a device of the above type which may be readily attached to a standard sewing machine.

Another object is to provide a plaiting device for making and attaching a plaited trimming between upper and lower layers of fabric.

Another object is to provide a simple, dependable and commercially practical device of the type above indicated.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed out more particularly in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself may be better understood by referring to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which a specific embodiment thereof has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sewing machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the sewing machine taken from the right-hand end of Figures 1 and 2 and showing the driving mechanism;

Figure 4 is a detail view of the driving mechanism showing the adjusting means for the pushrod;

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of the stitching and plaiting mechanism as seen from the left-hand end of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a folder to be used in connection with the plaiting mechanism of Figure 5;

Figure '7 is an enlarged rear elevation of the stitching and plaiting mechanism;

Figure 8 is a detail view of the plaiting blade;

Figure 9 is a detail view of the fabric guide plate;

Figure 10 is a broken plan view showing one type of product as it appears when stitched;

Figure 11 is an end view of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a broken plan View showing the 'finished product as it appears when the layers of fabric are folded back to expose the plaiting;

Figure 13 is an end view of Figure'12;

Figure 14 is a plan view showing the reverse side of another type of product;

Figure 15 is a plan view showing the front side thereof;

Figure 16 is an end View of Figure 15;

Figure 1'? is a plan view showing the reverse side of a third type of product;

Figure 18 is a plan view showing the front side thereof; and

' Figure 19 is an end view of Figure 18.

In the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine having a base or work support I0 and head ll, carrying a needle bar i2 and a presser foot bar l3, provided with a needle I l and a presser foot i5 respectively. The needle bar I2 is driven by suitable means, such as a drive shaft 20 carrying a driving pulley 2!. It is to be understood that the sewing machine head and associated mechanism are of standard construction, and only so much thereof has been set forth herein as is necessary to an understanding of this invention.

The driving mechanism for the plaiting blade (to be described), as shown in Figures 1 to 4, comprises a frame 22 provided with a bracket 23, which is attached to the end of the sewing machine head by suitable means, such as screws 24. A rotating shaft 25, carrying a worm gear 26 and a cam 21, is journ'aled in the frame 22. The worm gear 26 meshes with a worm 28 attached to the drive shaft 26. The bracket 23 is extended to the rear of the machine and carries a boss 39 in which a push-rod 3! is slidably supported. The push-rod 3|, as shown in the drawings (Figure 2), extends across the back of the machine adjacent the work support and actuates the plaiting blade in the manner to be described. The end 32 of the push-rod 3| bears against the cam 2'! and is actuated thereby. An adjustable stop means is provided comprising an arm 33 which is attached to the push-rod 3| by means of a set screw 34 and carries a threaded adjusting screw 35 actuated by a knob 36 and having suitable locking means, such as a lock nut 31. The adjusting screw 35 bears against the side of the bracket 23 and limits the movement of the push-rod 3|. In this way, the stroke of the rod produced by the action of the cam 21 may be varied as desired.

The other end 40 of the push-rod 31 is slidably held in a bearing ll in a bracket 42 (Figures 2 and 5) which isattached to the sewing machine head H by suitable means, shown as screws 43.

A spring i l, carried on the push-rod SI and held between the bracket 62 and a collar 35 attached to the rod serves to hold the push-rod 31 against the cam 2i. A cam member it having a tapered cam surface A l is shown as attached to the push-rod Si by set screws 28. The cam surface 6'! cooperates with a cam follower 53 which is adjustably attached by set screws El to a rock shaft 52, journaled in a bearing 53 formed in the bracket ll. A spring Ki l, held between the follower and a collar 55 attached to the bracket serves to hold the follower 551 in engagement with the cam surface ll.

To the rock shaft is attached an arm 69], carrying at its free end a pin 8| on which a collar carrying a plaiting blade 63 is attached. A spring 6 is shown as disposed around the pin SI for holding the plaiting blade 63 in engagement with the plaiting material, as will be described. Fne plaiting blade 63 is provided with a serrated edge adapted to engage and plait the plaiting material, and with a slot 66 to provide clearance for the needle i l as the blade is reciprccated.

The presser foot if: is providedwith an upturned toe 6! under which the material is fed by the blade 63. The upturned toe 61 is provided with an opening 88 to receive the needle M.

The plaiting material "iii is fed beneath the plaiting blade 33 and over a guide plate I! (Figures 2, 5 and 9) The guide plate TI is adjustably attached to the base ill of the sewing machine by means of screws 12 and carries a block 73 on which a plaiting guide id is adjustably mounted.

The plaiting guide i i comprises telescoping U-shaped parts and 'i ib which are mounted respectively on rods "55 and it. The rods ?5 and 15 are slidably held in suitable slots in the block 73 and are positioned by screws 'l'! and 18 respectively. The parts f le and 'Z ib may be telesccped for the purpose of adjusting the width of the folder to accommodate the particular plaiting material it which is being fed therethrough. In certain instances, this guide 14 may comprise a folder for folding in the edges of said plaiting material or for forming the material into two or more thicknesses, as desired.

The arrangement is such that the serrated edge (35 of the plaiting blade 3 engages the plaiting material l'al as it passes over the guide plate H and advances the same beneath the upturned toe E? to the needle id in a series of folds 80 which are adapted to be stitched to form plaits 8!, as shown in Figures 10, 14 and 17.

A base fabric 82 may be fed to the needle l4 beneath the guide plate ii in a position such that the plaiting material is stitched thereto as the plains are formed, as shown in Figure 10. It is to be understood that a suitable guide or folder may be provided for the base fabric 82 for folding under the raw edge as it is advanced to the needle, thereby concealing the raw edge between the base fabric and the plaiting material.

In certain instances, it is also desirable to attach a facing over the plaiting material. For this purpose, a facing 85 is fed through a guide 8", over the plaiting lade G3, and beneath the presser foot I5. The guide 86 is attached by a pin 81 to a suitable aperture in the presser foot 15 and may be adjustably secured by a set screw 88. This facing material 85 may comprise an upper layer of fabric, as shown in Figures to 16, or may comprise a strip or band, as shown in Figures 1'7 to 19.

If desired, the raw edge of the facing material may be folded under by means of a suitable folder, such, for example, as a folder 90 of the type shown in Figure 6, which may be carried by a pin 9i and attached to the presser foot IS in place of the guide 86. The folder 90 may be adapted to turn the edge of the material in one or more times to provide a finished edge, as shown in Figures 14 to 19.

As a further embodiment of the invention, an additional strip of material 93 may be fed between the facing and the plaiting material 10, as shown in Figures 17 to 19. This strip 93 may be of a contrasting color and may be positioned so that its edge projects beyond the facing 85. It may also be folded to conceal the raw edge thereof. For this purpose, an additional folder (not shown) may be attached to the presser foot [5, or the folder 98 may be made as a double folder to fold and guide the facing 85 and the strip 93. Obviously, various other combinations may be made by suitably modifying the form and positions of the various folders.

In the operation of the above-described device, the cam 2'! is driven through the shaft 2-5, the worm gear 26 and the worm 28, in timed relationship with the actuation of the needle i l. The operation of the cam 21 reciprocates the pushrod 3! and causes the cam surface 47 to slide relative to the cam follower '58, thereby periodically elevating the cam follower 5D and causing the rock shaft 52 and the arm 60 to oscillate. The plaiting blade 63 is thus caused to reciprocate in the direction of feed of the plaiting material and to engage and advance the plaiting material in a series of folds '80, as illustrated in Figure 5, and to position the same under the upturned toe 6'! of the presser foot 15 in the path of the needle M. The reciprocation'of the plaiting blade 63 is so timed with respect to the operation of the needle i l thatthe folds are held in position until they have received at least one stitch, the needle passing through the slot 66 in the blade 63 for this purpose. Thereafter, the blade 63 is retracted in preparation for the next feed stroke. The stroke of the blade 63 may be adjusted by varying the position of the cam follower 5!) on the rock shaft 52 and by adjusting the screw 35 which limits the reciprocating movement of the push-rod 3|. In this way, the width of 'the plaits may be varied as desired. Furthermore, the spacing of the plaits may be varied by changing the contour of the cam 21. A cam having four faces has been shown for purposes of illustration. It is to'be understood, of course, that the cam may have any other contour, the characteristic of the plaiting being determined by the number of faces of the cam and the gear ratio between the cam and drive shaft. In certain instances, an irregular cam may be employed, such as, for example, a cam having two cam surfaces separated by an arcuate surface, to provide, for example, two actuations of the plaiting blade 63 followed by a dwell. Various otherregular or irregular arrangements may be provided.

In the embodiment shown, a base fabric 82 is fed to the path of the needle beneath the plaiting material. For making the products shown in Figures 10 to 13, the base material 82 may be fed as above indicated, and the facing material '85 may be fed through the guide flfi.

The material is then received from the machine in the form shown in Figures 10' and 11, and when the base fabric 82 and the facing 85 are reversed, as shown in Figures'l2 and 13, the raw edges thereof are folded under and concealed. Figures 14 to 16 show an embodiment in which one of these fabrics is omitted. The product of Figures 14 to 16 may be made by providing a folder of the type shown in Figure 6 for folding in the raw edge of the facing 85 prior to stitching.

'It may also be made by omitting the facing and providing a suitable folder to fold in the raw edge of the base fabric 82. An additional folder or guide means may be provided for folding and guiding a strip 93 between the facing 85 and the plaiting material to make the product shown in Figures 17 to 19.

It is to be noted that the above device is adapted to be used as an attachment for a standard sewing machine, the only modification required being the attachment of the brackets 23 and G2 to the opposite ends of the sewing machine head, as indicated. The machine may also be used for normal sewing operations without removing the attachment by loosening the set screws holding the follower 50 to the rock shaft 52 and turning the rock shaft so as to bring the plaiting blade 5? out of engagement with the material.

It will be noted that the above-described mechanism is adapted to a wide range of adjustments for making different products; also, that it is readily applied to any standard sewing machine, of either the single needle or multiple needle type, as an attachment. The particular drive mechanism may be used with other attachments requiring a timed reciprocating element.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto, but that various changes and modifications may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art. Certain specific terms have been used herein for convenience in referring to various details of the invention. The invention, however, is only to be limited in accordance with the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a' reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to engage a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, cam means actuating said rock shaft, and means extending across the back of the machine and adjacent the work support reciprocated by said drive shaft to actuate said cam means, whereby said plaiting blade is actuated in a timed relationship with respect to the reciprocating needle.

2. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a, reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to engage a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, cam means actuating said rock shaft, 3, push-rod extending across the back of the machine and adjacent the Work support actuating said cam means, and actuating means for said push-rod driven by said drive shaft, whereby said plaiting blade is actuated in a timed relationship with respect to the reciprocating needle.

3. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a plaiting blade carried. by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to engage a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, a rotating cam driven by said drive shaft, a push-rod engaging said cam and reciprocated thereby, a cam member carried by said push-rod, and a cam follower associated with said rock shaft and actuated by said cam member for oscillating said rock shaft in timed relationship with respect to said reciprocating needle.

4. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to engage a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, a rotating cam driven by said drive shaft, and means extending across the back of the machine and adjacent the work support reciprocated'by said cam to actuate said rock shaft.

5. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to engage a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, cam means actuating said rock shaft, a push-rod actuating said cam means, actuating means for said push-rod driven by said drive shaft, whereby said plaiting blade is actuated in a timed relationship with respect to the reciprocating needle, and an adjustable stop means carried by said push-rod to limit the movement thereof for thereby adjusting the stroke of said plaiting blade.

6. In a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm, a member carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby and to position a material for stitching, a bracket attached to said head and carrying said rock shaft, a frame attached to said head and carrying a rotating shaft, gear means connecting said rotating shaft to said drive shaft, cam means carried by said rotating shaft, a push-rod engaging said cam means to be reciprocated thereby, means associated with said bracket and said frame for supporting the ends of said push-rod, and means associated with said push-rod to actuate said rock shaft.

7. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket to be attached to said head, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm journaled in said bracket, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, said blade having means engaging a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, cam means actuating said rock .shaft, a push-rod extending across the back of the machine and adjacent the work support actuating said cam means, and means adapted to be connected to said drive shaft for actuating said push-rod.

8. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket to be attached to said head, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm journaled in said bracket, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, said blade having means engaging a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, a rotating cam adapted to be connected to be driven by said drive shaft, a push-rod engaging said cam and reciprocated thereby, a cam member carried by said push-rod and a cam follower associated with said rock shaft and actuated by said cam member.

9. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket to be attached to said head, a rock shaft carrying an oscillating arm journaled in said bracket, a plaiting blade carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, said blade having means engaging a plaiting material to advance the same to the needle for stitching in successive folds, cam means actuating said rock shaft, a push-rod actuating said cam means, means adapted to be connected to said drive shaft for actuating said push-rod, and an adjustable stop means carried by said push-rod to limit the movement thereof for thereby adjusting the stroke of said plaiting blade.

10. An attachment for a sewing machine having a head carrying a reciprocating needle and drive means therefor including a rotating drive shaft, said attachment comprising a bracket to be attached to said head, a rock shaft carrying r an oscillating arm journaled in said bracket, a

member carried by said arm and adapted to be reciprocated thereby, a frame adapted to be at tached to said head and carrying a rotating shaft, gear means to connect said shaft to said drive shaft, a cam carried by said rotating shaft, a push-rod engaging said cam to be reciprocated thereby, means associated with said bracket and said frame for supporting the ends of said pushrod, and means associated with said push-rod to actuate said rock shaft.

CHARLES SEAMAN. 

